(C₃H₄O₂)_n (Polylactic acid, PLA)

Polymers and photoresists

1 dataset, together covering 0.405–0.635 µm. Default: Bodurov et al. 2016: PDLA; n 0.405–0.635 µm.

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Tick datasets in the list to add them to the plot (up to 12).

Datasets

Bodurov et al. 2016: PDLA; n 0.405–0.635 µm n 0.405–0.635 µm default

Use it in Lightsmith

Load this data in Python, simulate in one more line

pip install lightsmith

import lightsmith as ls

# (C3H4O2)n (Polylactic acid, PLA): Bodurov et al. 2016: PDLA; n 0.405–0.635 µm
polylactic_acid = ls.fetch_refractiveindex("organic", "polylactic_acid", "Bodurov", ref="c5c2f188e848453def5970e347399d653df2ffc2")
print(polylactic_acid.range_nm)  # (405, 635) nm
eps = polylactic_acid.eps([633])  # complex permittivity

Downloads the original record once (pinned to the imported snapshot) and caches it.

import json, urllib.request
import lightsmith as ls

url = "https://materials.lightsmith.dev/v1/datasets/ds_f5fb7a57ffb7/lightsmith"
polylactic_acid = ls.Tabulated.model_validate(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(url)))
print(polylactic_acid.source)  # citation and provenance travel with the data

Any dataset here, as the library's Tabulated material (polylactic-acid/bodurov-2016).

# ... load polylactic_acid as above, then:
sim = ls.Simulation(
    particles=[ls.Particle(shape=ls.Sphere(radius_nm=50), material=polylactic_acid)],
    medium_index=1.0,
    wavelengths=ls.WavelengthRange(start_nm=405, stop_nm=635, num=81),
)
res = ls.solve(sim)  # exact Mie for a sphere
print(res.q_ext)     # extinction efficiency at each wavelength

Same spec runs with DDA, FDTD, BEM or T-matrix: ls.compare(sim, ["mie", "dda"]).

import json, urllib.request
import lightsmith as ls

url = "https://materials.lightsmith.dev/v1/datasets/ds_f5fb7a57ffb7/lightsmith?model=drude_lorentz"
polylactic_acid_dl = ls.DrudeLorentz.model_validate(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(url)))

A dispersive Drude–Lorentz model for time-domain solvers.

Materials guide Open a sphere of it in Studio Quick start Ask the community

Lightsmith is open source (MIT): Mie, T-matrix, BEM, DDA, FDTD, RCWA, TMM, mode solvers and inverse design behind one spec, on CPU or GPU. GitHub.

About (C3H4O2)n (Polylactic acid, PLA)

Polylactic acid (PLA, (C₃H₄O₂)_n) is a biodegradable and bioactive thermoplastic derived from renewable resources like corn starch or sugarcane. It has captured significant attention due to its compostability under industrial conditions, positioning it as an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based plastics. PLA is utilized in a multitude of applications ranging from food packaging to biomedicine, such as drug delivery systems and surgical implants. In the realm of optics, PLA is typically transparent, with a refractive index that can be influenced by factors like crystallinity and processing methods. Though its mechanical strength is comparable to that of polystyrene, PLA has a lower melting temperature, which can limit its use in certain high-temperature applications. Nevertheless, due to its biocompatibility and environmentally friendly nature, polylactic acid continues to be a material of interest for both research and commercial purposes.

Other names: polylactic_acid, C3H4O2)n (Polylactic acid, PLA, Polylactic acid, (C₃H₄O₂)_n, Poly(lactic acid), Polylactide, PLA, PDLA, Poly-D-lactide, PLLA, Poly-L-lactide, PDLLA, Poly-DL-lactide

Polylactic acid - Wikipedia

API: /v1/materials/mat_d4e612692cd8 · slug polylactic-acid